Chanda, an Indian Mother is a feature film by Indian director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari.It tells the sensitive story, the struggle of a woman, a mother to keep her daughter in school. An intense and positive message about girls' schooling and women's power of empowerment and development in India.
A fighter's journey
In line with The Lunchbox, Indian cinema is back on our screens with a new feel good movie with a message. The scenario seems rather dramatic and depicts the difficult path of a widowed mother who struggles to make ends meet by doing several odd jobs to allow her daughter to go to school but Chanda, an Indian mother is also a real message of hope and a real life lesson, without being moralistic or too melodramatic.
The role of mother Chanda is played by Swara Bhaskar, an almost beginner actress, far from the glamorous standards of Bollywood. For this role, the 28-year-old actress had to gain weight and was aged in order to be credible in the role of a mother of a 15-year-old child. It is mainly she who makes the whole film: we can say that she bursts the screen and makes her character really endearing and warm.
Her daughter Apeksha is played by Riya Shukla, she also ensures a very good performance in the role of the ungrateful teenager. It is also interesting to note the position of the girl and her cynical point of view on her life and her future.
A woman in charge
The film pays tribute to mothers, but director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari also pays tribute to all girls and women and sends them the message to always believe in their dreams and never give up. The story might sound a bit cliché, but the fact that the mother returns to school to help her daughter because she can't afford tutoring brings a fresh and original perspective to the film.
The director manages to show the poverty of this family without falling into melodrama or cynicism. Chanda's life is certainly difficult as a widow with many odd jobs, but we get attached to her and we do not pity her. It is not this aspect of his life that is told. On the contrary, it is a portrait of a strong and determined woman that can be seen here.
The making of the film in the city of Agra suggests that we could see the Taj Mahal in the background at all scenes, it is not. It is only at the end of the film that we can see the monument, so it does not steal the show.
The last scene is a little too melodramatic and tries to make people cry in the cottages but allows us to conclude the film on a good note by saying that by believing in your dreams, everything becomes possible.
A tribute to mothers, Chanda, an Indian mother is an optimistic, moving and touching film. It is also a true message of hope to all women in the world. It deals with topics such as education, schooling, dreams and their outcomes.
